Day 13 Kingsport - Tennessee

I was feeling down this morning, down and lonely. This trip is so different from Africa, from a communication point of view, out there it was the norm that we probably would not be able to contact any one back home, either by mobile phone or internet, Jem has said that the longest she didn't hear from me was two weeks. I am aware that it must have been hard for her, and that for me, although it was disappointing and frustrating, when i couldn't make contact, i had plenty of other distractions, to take my mind off it. Out here i have pretty much been able to call the folks back home every day, the only major drawback is the time difference of 5 hours, which means i have a very narrow 'window',if i want to speak with Jem. Its slightly better of course at the week end, when she is not at work, but it is the very reason that i can contact her so easily on this solo trip that just drives home the feeling of isolation, when i am feeling a bit down.

I had a long briefing with Goose at support headquarters NYC last night, it had been a while, and i told him about my plan now was to ride through Tennessee and head for Nashville for a bit of Relaxation, (I had wanted to celebrate my 50th there, but it didn't happen), we talked at length about the options from there, and it was good, he is doing a fine job of much needed support, thanks Goose. Even if he still wants me to 'ditch the dam trailer'.

dont read this as it is not finished and may make you worried

It was just that afterwards, as i looked over the maps, and saw how far i have come, and how much further i still have to go, that i started to have a bit of a reality check, and for the first time began to doubt if i could actually manage the whole trip in the time. I tried to tell myself that it wouldn't matter if i didn't manage it, it was still a wonderful thing to do, and i should enjoy the fact that i am lucky enough to even attempt it. So i put the light out, and tried to but those doubts out as well. The problem was the folks in the room above didn't help, by having the TV up loud until 1am, and when they finally turned it off, i could then hear their air con blowing all night (I had turned mine off cos i was to cold), so i had yet another disturbed night. You really take pot luck with these cheap Motels, i guess that were designed and built for a different era, when people were more considerate for people around them, having said that,the few nights that i have camped, have not all been perfect, but for other reasons! So with all those things happening,  it was hardly suprising that i was feeling less than 'perfect' this morning, the fact that it was a Sunday and family units were together didn't help either.

So i awoke late, and without much enthusiasm made my preparations for the day, unusually the room came with a hot breakfast,that i had to take at the Best Western, a sister Motel, over the road, i would have preferred to have got going, but the chance of some long awaited eggs, was not to be sniffed at, although, seeing all those people together didn't help my mood none.